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Friday 2 December 2011
Tuesday 8 November 2011
What to consider when renovating your kitchen
At Mountainside, we renovate plenty of kitchens. From small galley kitchens to huge, open concept entertainer's dream kitchens, We've done them all. While the renovations are different, some things are the same. Here are some things to consider when renovating your kitchen:
Dining Rooms
Many of our renovations involve an undersized (and over-used) kitchen, and an over-sized (and under-used) formal dining room. I've seen many cases where families will cram into an eating nook in the kitchen for years, because the formal dining room is just too...formal to be used on a daily basis. If you have a separated kitchen and dining room, think about opening up the space between them, to create a seamless kitchen/dining area.
Current Trends
As I mentioned above, it's becoming increasingly common to combine separated rooms into a more "open-concept" space. This is becoming increasingly popular, because our way of entertaining, hosting, and interacting with others is changing. It used to be that one person would be in the kitchen preparing food, while the other one was with the guests, acting as a host. Our clients continually tell us that more and more, guests are ending up in the kitchen to chat, so that everyone can be in one place. Why not make one larger, connected area to keep everyone connected?
Cabinets:
There are two main types of materials used to build cabinet boxes: Particle board or plywood. Aesthetically, you normally can't tell the difference. Then why is plywood around 15% more expensive? It will last much longer. The Particle board will slowly break down, but plywood will often last as long as the people living in the house. Do your research on the two, check them out, and make your decision based on your budget, needs, and how long you want the kitchen to last.
Looking for some great kitchen cabinet companies?
I'd recommend checking out JMV woodworks at www.jmvwoodworks.ca
Or Pilats Custom Woodworks at www.pilatscustom.com
Counter tops:
There are many types of counter tops that that can be used. Here are a few options:
- Laminate: Arborite (Laminate) counters are the least expensive (and least durable) counter surface available. They are functional and affordable, but be sure to use hot pads, as they can't handle hot temperatures like the other solid-surface products
- Granite: Granite is more expensive than Arborite, but still significantly cheaper than most other solid surface counters. It is made of real rock, which is cut to size and sealed before use. Due to the fact that it is real rock, it is porous, and must be re-sealed every few years.
-Cambria, Quartz, Silestone, Caesarstone: I know, I should not be combining these all into one category, but lets be honest, they are all pretty similar. While Silestone has microban built in, Cambria has better color selection. These are all manufactured solid surface products that are not porous. No maintenance, beautiful colors, and all of them will be on the higher end of the price range.
Bringing it all together:
While I touched on a few topics, it will be the help of a skilled designer that can bring it all together to look great, and add value and functionality to your home. In my opinion, if you're thinking about renovating your kitchen, take your time and do your research. It's not worth rushing into a major investment.
Here are some pictures of our projects to help inspire you:
And one office kitchen:
Friday 28 October 2011
The Coolest Thermostat Ever.
Think thermostats can't be sexy? Think again. Check out the auto-learning "nest" thermostat. Probably the coolest home thermostat since...ever. It was invented by the makers of the ipod, and makes me want to replace my old thermostat with one of these beauties.
Check them out online at www.nest.com
Thursday 27 October 2011
Permits
Renovating tends to be a poorly regulated industry. If you wish to build a NEW house, there are permits, home builder's warranty and regulations to follow. If you wish to renovate your existing kitchen, people seem to be far less likely to take out a permit.
Here's why: we think it will be too much of a hassle to be worth it. This way of thinking, although understandable, is missing some very key points. First, If I was house hunting, walked in to an old house, with a stunning new kitchen, I'd be very worried if I found out that it was renovated without permits. I spoke with someone earlier today who had a very hard time selling his home, because he completed some renovations without permits, and the purchaser wanted EVERYTHING inspected and brought up to code. The $350 in permits would have saved him this entire problem.
Second, permitting a renovation means that you value your health and safety. If you rip out your drywall without knowing that it's full of aesbestos, you are putting your entire family's health at risk. Even the best electricians make mistakes. Without a mandatory inspection, some of these errors could be overlooked, which could cause blown fuses, electrical fires, etc.
Third, it's the law. If you're renovating, you should know whether a permit is required or not.
Although municipal inspections can add an increased level of hassle, it is an inconvenience that is completely worth it.
Do yourself, your family, and the resale value of your home a favor. Get a permit.
Here's why: we think it will be too much of a hassle to be worth it. This way of thinking, although understandable, is missing some very key points. First, If I was house hunting, walked in to an old house, with a stunning new kitchen, I'd be very worried if I found out that it was renovated without permits. I spoke with someone earlier today who had a very hard time selling his home, because he completed some renovations without permits, and the purchaser wanted EVERYTHING inspected and brought up to code. The $350 in permits would have saved him this entire problem.
Second, permitting a renovation means that you value your health and safety. If you rip out your drywall without knowing that it's full of aesbestos, you are putting your entire family's health at risk. Even the best electricians make mistakes. Without a mandatory inspection, some of these errors could be overlooked, which could cause blown fuses, electrical fires, etc.
Third, it's the law. If you're renovating, you should know whether a permit is required or not.
Although municipal inspections can add an increased level of hassle, it is an inconvenience that is completely worth it.
Do yourself, your family, and the resale value of your home a favor. Get a permit.
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Attack of the wet Attic.
This is the time of year that I like for some reasons (hockey season starting) and dislike for others (rain).
Every time this year, when the rain starts, we get calls from home owners who found a leak in their roof. Most of the time they don't find it until the water makes its way through the drywall ceiling and ruins the ceiling and often the floor underneath.
I have a suggestion that will save you time and money in the long run. It's quite simple:
1. Get a step ladder
2. Grab a flashlight
3. Climb up into the attic, and look for black spots on the plywood roof sheeting, or wet spots on the insulation.
If you see any problems, call a roofing company, restoration company or renovator. You obviously have a problem here.Your roof may only be 10 years old, but if it was a lower quality product, or was installed wrong, it could be failing.
Just like cleaning out your gutters, or pressure washing, a trip to the attic once or twice a year (especially in the fall) is definitely worth the effort!
Every time this year, when the rain starts, we get calls from home owners who found a leak in their roof. Most of the time they don't find it until the water makes its way through the drywall ceiling and ruins the ceiling and often the floor underneath.
I have a suggestion that will save you time and money in the long run. It's quite simple:
1. Get a step ladder
2. Grab a flashlight
3. Climb up into the attic, and look for black spots on the plywood roof sheeting, or wet spots on the insulation.
If you see any problems, call a roofing company, restoration company or renovator. You obviously have a problem here.Your roof may only be 10 years old, but if it was a lower quality product, or was installed wrong, it could be failing.
Just like cleaning out your gutters, or pressure washing, a trip to the attic once or twice a year (especially in the fall) is definitely worth the effort!
Friday 23 September 2011
Every Renovation Has a Story
Everyone who renovates has a reason for doing so. Some people need more space. Others are tired of an outdated house. For one of our clients, they wanted to return their home to it's "former glory". We received a call last year from a lady who was looking at a house that had some history for her family. She and her husband built the house in 1978. In the mid eighties, they ended up moving away, but she always dreamed of moving back.
When we received a call from her, it had been 25 years since she left, and she wanted it back. This is what it looked like:
The inside, although not HORRIBLE, had not really been updated in years. It needed a ton of work. We ended up designing an addition above the garage, and virtually re-built the home, aside from the original framing.
Here is what it looks like today:
It was really cool to be able to work on such a cool project with such an important history to the owners.
I realize that not every renovation story is dramatic, but believe me, every renovation has an interesting an very unique story. It's what makes renovating so much fun.
When we received a call from her, it had been 25 years since she left, and she wanted it back. This is what it looked like:
The inside, although not HORRIBLE, had not really been updated in years. It needed a ton of work. We ended up designing an addition above the garage, and virtually re-built the home, aside from the original framing.
Here is what it looks like today:
I realize that not every renovation story is dramatic, but believe me, every renovation has an interesting an very unique story. It's what makes renovating so much fun.
Monday 19 September 2011
Crown Moulding
Crown moulding is beautiful stuff. I may be biased, but I absolutely love it. In my opinion, it will be your best visual impact for the amount of money and time spent.
I guess I should throw in a disclaimer here. Properly installed crown moulding is great.
Yes, it's harder to install than baseboard or window casing, but it's totally worth the effort.
Here are a few things to think of when considering crown moulding:
1. Ceiling height. Yes, you may love the massive, 8" wide crown moulding that you saw in a show home, but if your house has 8' ceilings, it will make the room feel crowded. Look at a 4 or 5" moulding; it will look much better once on the wall
2. Style of Moulding (Profile): If you look at the two pictures above, they are both really nice mouldings, but each one fits a certain type of home style. Try to blend in your crown moulding with the look and feel of your house.
3. Layout: While it may seem great to have crown moulding installed throughout the entire house, consider your layout first. Does your spare bedroom really need crown? Probably not. We often end up installing crown in the following rooms:
- foyer/hallways
-living and dining room
- master bedroom
- kitchen (if there is not already crown on the top of the cabinets.
Keep in mind that bathrooms are really hard on mouldings. The moisture can cause expansion and contraction of the trim, so if i can avoid mdf trim in bathrooms, I will.
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